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He was also instrumental in the installation of a cannabis farm in the loft of the house of his some-time girlfriend, Sophie Craven, who pleaded guilty at trial to allowing her premises to be used for the cultivation of cannabis.

Craven, 22, of Stanley Oak Road in Llandudno Junction, was ordered to carry out 70 hours unpaid work, and 15 days of a community rehabilitation activity.

Laundered cash

The court heard that Claire Saidi-Bidokhti, the wife of "mastermind" Darius, allowed her business accounts to be used to launder cash generated from the illegal activities of her husband.

She was given the same punishment as Craven.

She accepted that she suspected monies used to fund a Merseyside property were criminal property, with the total amount she laundered valued at £10,000.

She allowed her business accounts to be used to launder cash generated from the illegal activities of her husband which was used to fund the deposit of the address on Jessamine Road.

Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Liverpool Echo)

Text messages between her and her husband, who have a nine-month-old daughter, before and after the purchase of the property showed clearly that she was aware that her husband was a dealer in and cultivator of cannabis.

Judge Driver told both women: "The culpability of both of you is similar.

"You are both women of good character who have been drawn into this because of your relationship with a man, who committed more serious offences."

He added they could go to jail if they came before him in a courtroom again.

Additional defendants

The court also heard evidence of the involvement of several other defendants in the case - who will all be sentenced tomorrow.

They included Neil McDonald, 38, who was a "leading role" in the cannabis conspiracies and was also high up the criminal hierarchy for supplying cocaine to Saidi-Bidokhti.

Tomas Morozovas, 41, was a significant participant in the conspiracies to supply and produce cannabis, the court heard.

Luke Francis, 22, an associate of McDonald, was arrested in a car that contained three quarters of a kilo of cocaine, and occupied a flat in Liverpool set up as a drugs safe house.